Method of and apparatus for opening the signatures fed to a signature-handling machine



Aprll 9, 1935. o. KLEINSCHMIT ETAL 1,997,368

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING THE SIGNATURES FED TO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aprll 9, 1935. o. KLEINSCHMIT El AL- METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING THE SIGNATURES FED TO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed 001;. 13. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Ti W 'Inveufans.-

Patented Apr. 9, 1935 METHOD or. ANN-A PARATUS 'FOR' mm ING THE SIGNATURESTED rUR r-HANnnINGmmo mE Oscar; Kleins chjmit ,and?Walten Geissler, Leipzig- Plagwitz, Germany, assignors to Gebrlltli" Brehmer, Leinzigelflagwitz, Germany, a, firm of "Germanyf S Applicatiomoctoherl3, 1930; Seria1 No. v In'qermany July 24, 19301 The present invention-relates ito zbookestitch-inga machines and more particularly concerns, a to such method for opening the signatures-fed machines by an automatic sheet Ffdb Usually, in-this type ofmachine;thewclosedbookv sections or signatures are fed to suitableaopen-A ingtcmeanswhereby each signature @is placed ,strad-dlewise upon a sheet carrier which then po. sitions the signature [beneath the :stitcher i head Signatures are comparatively easy, to Jopenwand handlevinthisfashion, provided that they are folded in :such a :manner that the halves :fit and a are held oneinto the other, as is the ,casexwhen a:

sheetwishoth parallel folded andwcross folded-.7:

natures to be formed by parallel ufolding ,only, i and: also .for signatures that have beenwsoionned,

or cross folded as the case may be,;to be provided withiront or endisheets which are separately, at tached thereto. I

When thesignature to behandled is formed asv last ;described or. provided .:.with attached :end sheets, diiiiculty sis experienced in opening and positioning. the signature :upon the sheet-carrier, by.any::of:the knovm l-methods. The inner-sheets or leaves not held by the suction-xmembe'rs .tend

to movelaway :from the, correct middlfiifOld and so '1 become unevenly divided; when .placed' upon the A caused to adhere to the suction roll When-the orifices; during the rotation of thetrol-lslfl moves sheet carrier; 30

placing them, accurately; divided along the'middle fold, upon-the-sheetacarrier.

Accordingmto thisdnvention cross currents, of; air are directed overatheapexiof thessheet-carrier to impinge upon theinner leaves of a signature:

during the of the latter between h-rotary suctionimemb'ers; i

tion-roll type; in :which:

Fig.1 is an elevational view of a rotary sheet-I carrier stitching-machine of well known type shown fitted .with 'asheet opening device according to :ithis'invention; .W i

paratus. Fig. '3 is a view Referring to Fig. l 'offthe drawings, ithe'jmachine comprises a frame] 5 in which'are mounted upon" a vertical shaft 16 the rotary ,sheet icarrierarms: l I. 'The latter serve to:' carry sheets orwsignatures:

S and are rotated-by mechanism .which imparts viceqwith which this invention is more particular It is 100111131011 :in the: art, however, for thee sig'-:

Theebject. of this invention is toprovide acon-V venientcmethodvof' opening such signatures and armament anglesftoil figirla a rise and fall motion to the arms and supportingshaftduring-thefsaid rotation: The mechanism for [this purpose together with the. manner of its, operation is veryqwell knownginthe art andnot beiurther describedingthis connectionsince i it forms nop art-of therpresentinvention. l

A Positioned ahove .the ;path ofotravel oflth'eu rotary sheet carriers i l is the sheet opening-he,

1y concerned, i The; device comprises inversely-rotating suction, rolls 19 mounted onostub ishaftsiiournalled in brackets ll depending from :the machine frame [5 andprovided with automatically controlled, suctio nlorifices l2 (Figs.,2 and ,3), i V

The suction orificestli. are formeddmthecircumferentiallfacesof the .rollsl-l 0 and eachorifice: communicates by means of a right angle passage I201. (Fig. 3) withacorrespondingorifice on zonei lateral face of thesaid r011. Valve plates ioaisup- 20 ported by the1 brackets H areadaptsdiresiliently, to engage; the apertured lateral -faces of, theirolls; I (land are connected-to asuitable suction pumpd through the conduits indicated Joy-the reference 23. V Obvious1y, when the lateral;lorifices registeri 25,; 1 with the valve, plates lfla', suctionris,creatediina the'corresponding circumferential orifices.wliere-v upon a signature leaf contacting therewith ::;is

clear ,pfrthei corresponding valve, plates ,the.:;,va c5 uum 1 created by the, suction is destroyediandr-thet sig'nature released from the rolls 10-; and s05 dropped upon the carrier arm positioned tonre ceive-it, I i 1 I Conveyor belt pulleys J 8 and J 9 ,journalled- -in themachine frame, together with a belt tensions, ing pulley 20 journalled-ina bracket pivotaily: mountedon the machine frame are associated 1 with the suction rolls [0 and serve to ,carryicon- 40,-

veyori'belts .-2l whichalso pass around ,the sumtion rolls in and feed thereto-the= signatureslsi. H

Therconveyor belts are drivenby a driving,,bel t 2 la extending-froma driving pulley 2lb..

A sheet supporting Qrlay table 22 is utilizedkto 4 a 7 support thesheetsor signaturestotbe fed torthe Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view drawn 1302a larger scale of a unit ofsthe sheet opening. ape;-

conveyorbelts v v v Air nozzles or blowers. I 3, I 3" .are positionediad-s jacent the 1 suction rolls lllso as .to be ofiset irom x the path of thesheetcarriers ill asshownvinrfio 5 she ope in d vi vt v ecei easienawe seme or; cut sheets or are provided' with front or end sheets M, as above described and shown in Fig. 2,

straddlewise upon the members H.

The air nozzles or blowers l3, l3 are mounted on fiexible'air conduits 24 (Fig. l) which are se-' cured to a stand pipe 25 connected to a suitable air pump 28. Air is thus supplied to the nozzles i3, l3 and the position'of the latter may readily be adjusted bybending as'desired the flexible)" conduits 24. 1

The above set forth apparatus is also disclosed in our co-pending application Serial No. 489,220, filed October 16, 1930. a r

In operation, the closed signature is fed, by

' hand or automatically, to the conveyor belts 2| and so to the inversely rotating suction members It. During the travel of the signature between these members, the outside sheets thereof are seized .by the applied suction and opened by the rotation "of the members it; as shown in Fig. 2. 'When the signatures consist of parallel folded the inner sheets or pages'of the signature, so opened, are not under the direct control of the suction members; That is to say, the inner leaves o'r sheets being unsecured at their outer edges to tne outside-sheets,-tend to resist the opening pull 1 of the members it) and are separated from the outer sheets by the slight tension exerted by th Yrniddle fold of the'signatu're.

"The cross currents 'of air, however, impinge uponthese inner sheets as the signature is opened and so press the leaves of the divided signature towards their'respective divisions. The signature is thus held open and correctly divided until de-- posited upon the sheet-carrier by the automatic 7 v suction release as above described. 40 l Such blower attachments 'may be employed singly, if cross-folded signatures having only one attached sheetar'e to be opened, or may be provided-in pairs as above described or series of pairs, when cross-folded signatures having attached frontand end sheets, or parallel folded signatures with orwithout attached sheets are toj'be opened; J

Provision may also be made' to control individually the air supply to each pair of blower attachments'so as to enable each one to be operated separately and tothis end control'cocks 27 arefitted to the T-branch'of the stand pipe 25. In this manner when opening a crossfolded signature having an attached front sheet," the rear blowerattac'nment only would be op-' erated, and-[when openinga similarly folded signature having an attached back or'endsheet the front attachment only would be operated.

, It would, of course, be possible, by the same controllingmeanato cut off the blast completely when a cross-folded sheet without attached end sheets was to be opened by the mechanism.

' It will beappreciated that the above described method of openingsignatures is applicable to any type of book stitching machine in which automatic signature-opening apparatus is employedsuch as, for instance, rotary-arm threadstitching machines, book-stitching machines em'ploying reciprocating carriers and also known types of wire-stitching machines. i T

We claim: 1 '1.- A signature-opening -device for'use in a sig-- nature-handling machine, comprising, in combination, at leastone pair of inversely rotatable suction rolls, each provided with an. opening-in} its circumferential face communicating with an opening in a lateral face thereof, said circumferential face also having an annular groove formed therein, conveyor belts arranged to travel in said grooves so that adjacent stretches of said belts cooperate to feed closed signatures between the circumferential faces of said rolls, an arouate valve plate associated with each roll and arranged to register intermittently with the opening in saidlateral face, means for connecting said valve plates to a source of vacuum so that the limbs of the signatures passing between said rolls are seized, parted and released, and means for directing at least one current of air upon the innerrleaves of the opened signature to hold them apart;

Y 2. A signature-opening device for use in a signature-handling machine, comprising, in combination,;at least one pair of inversely rotatable suction rolls, each'provided with an opening in its circumferential'face communicating with an opening in a lateral face thereof, said circum ferential face also having an annular groove formed therein, conveyor belts arranged to travel insaid grooves so that adjacent stretches of said belts cooperate to feed closedsignatures between the circumferential faces of said rolls, an-arcu ate valve plate associated with each roll and arranged to register intermittently with the opening in said lateral face, means for connecting said valve plates to a source of vacuum, so that the limbs of the signatures passingbetween' said rolls are seized, parted and released, and at least one nozzle arranged to impinge a current .of air upon the inner leaves of the opened signature. 8. A signature-opening device for use in a signature handling machine, comprising, in combiate valve plate associated with each roll and arranged to register intermittently with the opening in said lateral face, means for. connecting said valve plates to a source of vacuum so that the limbs of the signatures passing between said rolls are seized; parted and released, and a plurality of nozzles arranged to impinge'eurrents of air upon the inner leaves of the opened signatures.

4. A signature-opening device for use in a signature-handling machine, comprising, in. combination, at least one pair of inversely ro-, tatable suction rolls, each provided with an opening in its circumferential. face communicating with an opening in a lateral facethereof, said circumferential face also having an annu lar groove formed therein, conveyor belts ar-. ranged to travel in said grooves so that adjacent stretches of said belts cooperateto feed closed signatures between the circumferential faces of said rolls, an arcuate valve jplate associated with each roll and arranged to register intermittently with the opening in said lateral face,, means for connecting said valve plates 'to a; source of vacuum so thatv the limbs of thesignatures passing between said rolls areseized,

parted and released, and a plurality of nozzles;

'arranged'toimpinge currents of air, upon the inner leaves of the opened signatures.

5. A signature-opening device for. use ina sigbetween the (circumferential faces. of said. 1011s,

an arcuate; valve plate:..associated,rwith each ;;roll

andyarranged to register intermittently .with the opening in said, lateral:face,, means for cone meeting, said valve plates to a;source. of vacuum solthatrtheiilimbs of :the signatures'passing be-. tween said rolls are seized,.parted-:and released; andaat, least one pair of nozzles arranged in. ope; positionwto impinge cross'vcurrents of air; upon the ainnerwleav'es of the opened signatures;

:6. In iaz signatureeha'ndling. machine, in ,com

bination, .a movable, roof-shapedsignature carrier and means for depositingan'opened, folded signature straddlewise upon said carrier, includ-,

' jingi-at-leastiione pair ofinvers'ely rotatable suction rolls positioned above said carrier, eachroll being provided with an opening in its ,circumferential face communicating with an openingin a lateral face thereof, said circumferential face also having an annular groove formed therein, conveyor belts arranged to travel in said grooves so that adjacent stretches of said belts cooperate to feed closedsignatures between the circumferential faces of said rolls, an arcuate valve plate associated with each roll and arranged to register intermittently with the opening in said lateral face, means for connecting said valve plates to a source of vacuum so that the limbs of the sig-j natures passing between said rolls are seized, parted and released, and means for directingiat least one current of air over the apex of said carrier andupon the inner leaves of the opened signature to hold them apart prior to seating said signature upon said carrier.

'7. In a signature-handling machine, in combination, a movable, roof-shaped signature carrier and means for depositing an opened, folded signature straddlewise upon said carrier, including at least one pair of inversely rotatable suction rolls positioned above said carrier, each roll being provided with an opening in its circum ferential face communicating with an opening in a lateral facethereof, said circumferential face also having an annulargroove formed therein, conveyor belts arranged to travel in said grooves so that adjacent stretches of said belts cooperate to feed closed signatures between the circumferential faces of said rolls, an arcuate valve plate associated with each roll and arranged to register intermittently with the opening in said lateral face, means for connecting said valve plates to a source of vacuum so that the limbs of the signatures passingbetween said rolls are seized, parted and released, and at least one nozzle arranged to direct a current of air over the apex of said carrier and upon the inner leaves of the opened signature to hold them apart prior to seating said signature upon said carrier.

8. In a signature-handling machine, in combination, a movable, roof-shaped signature carrier and means for depositing an opened, folded signature straddlewise upon said carriehincluding at least one pair of inversely rotatable suction rolls positioned above said carrier, each roll being provided with an opening in its circumferential'face communicating with an opening in 3a dateral; face thereof,- a said =,-ci r cumferential,

face also havin anriannularj gro ve .i-f r'me th e n, conv yor belts arranged to travel inzsaid grooves. so that. adieoentgstretches, of; said belts;

operate :to ,feedtclosed signatures between the i circumferential afacesl: of said .rolls, .anrarcuate,

valve plate. associated with eachiroll; and arev ranged, to register intermittently, with theeiopeningiinrsaid'lateral,face, ineansi sfor connecting said valve plates to asource of vacuumisoltha ti the limbs of the signatures :passingrbetween :said rolls, are seized; partedandsreleased, and a; plurality of nozzles arranged to: direct currentsaofw air 1 over the r apex of 1.-said. carrier and upon ithe inner leaves ofi-the, opened signature tohcld (them apart prior to: seatingzthe :si'gnatur'e uponisaid; carrier,

:9. In. a signatureehandlin'g machine, in i com-l bination, a imovable; -iroof-shaped signature care;

rierand'means fcridepositing an opened, folded signature straddlewiseupon said carrier, includ ing at least-one pair of inversely rotatable su'c' tion rolls positioned above said carrier, each roll being provided with an opening in its circumfer ential j faoe lcommunicating with an opening in- .a lateral face thereof, said circumferential face also having an amiular groove'formed therein, conveyor belts arranged to travel in saidgrooves so that adjacent stretches of said belts cooperate to feed closed signatures between the circumferential faces of said rolls, an arcuate valve plate associated with each rolland arranged to register intermittentlywith the opening in said lateral face, means for, connecting said valve platesto a sourceof vacuum so that the limbs of the signatures passing between saidrolls are seized, parted and released and at least one pair of nozzles arranged on either side of said movable carrier and offset from the path of movement thereof, said nozzles being arranged in opposition to impinge cross currents of air upon the inner leaves of the opened signature to hold them apart prior to seating said signature upon said carrier.

10. A signature-opening device for use in a signature-handling machine, comprising, in combination, a pair of bearing brackets, a pair of shafts journalled in said brackets, at least one pair of inversely rotatable suction rolls mounted upon said shafts, said rolls each being provided with at least one opening in its circumferential face with an opening in a lateral face thereof, oppositely disposed sleeve members secured to said bearing brackets, arcuate valve plates supported by said sleeve members so as to press resiliently against the apertured lateral, faces of said rolls, and register intermittently with the openings in said lateral face, means for connecting a source of vacuum to said valve plates so that the limbs of signatures passed between said rolls are seized, parted and released, and means for impinging at least one current of air upon the inner leaves of the opened signature to hold them apart.

11. A signature-opening device for use in a signature-handling machine, comprising, in combination, a pair of bearing brackets, a pair of shafts journalled in said brackets, at least one pair of inversely rotatable suction rolls mounted upon said shafts, said rollseach being provided with at least one opening in its circumferential face with an opening in a lateral face thereof, oppositely disposed sleeve ,members'secured to said bearing brackets, arcuate valve platessup- Said rolls and register intermittently with the openings in said lateral face, means for connecting a source of vacuum .to' said valve plates so that the limbs of signatures passed between said rolls are seized, parted and released, and at least one'nozzle arranged to impinge a current of air' upon the inner leaves of the opened signature.

r 12. A signature-opening device for use ina upon said shafts, said rolls each being provided I with at least one opening in its circumferential face with an opening in alateral face thereof, oppositely disposed sleeve members secured to said bearing brackets, arcuate valve platessupported by said sleeve members so as to press resiliently against the apertured lateral faces of said rolls and register intermittently with the opening in said lateral faces, means for connecting a source of vacuum to said valve plates so that the limbs of signatures passed'betweein said rolls are seized, parted and released, and 'a plurality of nozzles arranged toimpinge currents of air upon the inner leaves of the opened signatures.

1 3. A signature-opening device for use-in a signature-handling machine, comprising, in combination, a pair of bearing brackets, a pair of shafts journalled in said brackets, at least one pair of inversely rotatable suction'rolls mounted upon said shafts, said rolls each being provided with at least one opening in its circumferential face with an opening in a lateral face thereof, oppositely disposed sleeve members secured to said bearing brackets, arcuate valve plates supported by said sleeve members so as to press resiliently against the apertured'lateral faces of said rolls and register intermittently with the opening in said lateral faces, means for connecting a source of vacuum to said valve plates so. that the limbs of signatures passed between said rolls are seized, parted and released, and at least one pair of nozzles arranged in opposition to im-V pinge cross currents of air upon the inner leaves of the opened signatures. V t

OSCAR KLEINSCHMIT. i 1 WALTER GEISSLER. 

